Appointment

What to bring to your first appointment ?
What will happen during your first appointment ?
Forms available for download

What to bring to your first appointment ?

1) Print the Informed Consent for Treatment document at the bottom of this page. Review this document and bring a signed copy to your first appointment.

2) Copies of Records (Medical/Psychological/School/Employment) Report cards, test scores, test reports or any other records pertinent to ADHD or learning disabilities are very helpful in making an accurate assessment. Please bring photocopies of these reports rather than original copies. Your original copies should stay with you for safe keeping.

3) Credit card – the practice accepts payments by cash, check or charge. Credit card information is kept on file for each client in the event there is an outstanding balance.

What will happen during your first appointment ?

Children and Adolescents

Depending upon the age of the child, the parents may be seen alone, the child alone, or the session may be divided. Your first appointment will typically be a 90 minute clinical interview, during which you will be asked many questions about your current concerns, as well as about your child’s developmental, academic and psychological history. Information about family history will be collected as it is pertinent to your child.

The first several sessions may focus on information gathering and assessment, depending upon the individual circumstances of the child. Most often, the therapist will recommend a neuropsychological or psycho-educational assessment. Further testing may not be necessary if your child has been recently tested.

Adults

The first consultation will be a 90-minute clinical interview in which you will be asked about your current concerns, your reason for scheduling a consultation, and your family, educational and employment history. In many cases it is necessary to continue this interview process for a second appointment, which would be scheduled at the time of your first visit.

Often, you will be asked to complete questionnaires following your initial consultation. These responses will be reviewed and discussed with you at your second appointment.

Testing is not automatically part of the assessment process for ADHD in adults. Diagnosis of ADHD is typically made through an extended clinical interview and the completion of ADHD questionnaires. If testing is desirable, such as in the case of suspected learning disabilities (which very commonly co-occur with ADHD) or when there are questions about diagnosis or co-existing conditions, a referral for testing will be discussed.

Initial consultation for clients coming from out-of-town

Many people come from other parts of the U.S. or from abroad to request an evaluation. When a client travels from a distance, the clinical interview time is extended. You may expect to spend 2 to 4 hours at the office, perhaps with a break for lunch

Follow-up after testing or assessment

Test results will be discussed with the psychologist performing the testing. Dr. Vanderhorst will consult with the psychologist administering the testing and you will have a feedback session with the psychologist performing the testing. Following the feedback with the testing psychologist, Dr. Vanderhorst will meet with you to plan continuing treatment based on the test results.

When coming to the office from out of town, you will find the office easily accessible by car, plane or train with various options for public transportation. The office is conveniently located close to a Metro station and the DC area has an excellent Metro System. The Metro System can be accessed from the Reagan International Airport or Pennsylvania Train Station.

For clients without a rental car, it is most convenient to fly to Reagan National Airport from which there is easy access to the Washington Metro system. Take the Metro to Metro Center and then transfer to the Red Line toward Glenmont. Get off at the Silver Spring Metro Station and exit toward Colesville Road. Cross Colesville Road at Second Avenue and walk one block to Cameron Street. Turn right on Cameron and walk two more blocks to Georgia Avenue. The Zalco Building is on the corner of Georgia and Cameron. The entrance on Georgia has a long blue awning. 8701 Georgia Avenue, Suite 713.

The office is easily reached by car from the Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), only 30 minutes by car. From BWI, take I-95 South to the Washington Beltway. Head west on the Beltway toward Bethesda. Take Exit 30 (Colesville Road, Rt. 29) South. Stay on Colesville Rd. for approximately 1.5 miles and move to the right hand lane. When you come to the Spring Street light, turn right on Spring Street. Go one block to the Cameron Street light and turn left on Cameron. Go two blocks to Georgia Avenue. The Zalco Building is on the corner. The entrance on Georgia Avenue has a long blue awning. 8701 Georgia Avenue, Suite 713.

The officer is conveniently located in downtown Silver Spring, a little over a mile from the Washington Beltway. From the Washington Beltway (I495) take Exit 30 South (Colesville Road, MD 29). . Stay on Colesville Rd. for approximately 1.5 miles and move to the right hand lane. When you come to the Spring Street light, turn right on Spring Street. Go one block to the Cameron Street light and turn left on Cameron. Go two blocks to Georgia Avenue. The Zalco Building is on the corner. The entrance on Georgia Avenue has a long blue awning. 8701 Georgia Avenue, Suite 713.

Forms available for download

You may complete the registration forms by opening the appropriate document. The document is in Word format and may then be completed on your computer. Save the completed form for your records and then email the completed form to me at gkvanderhorst@gmail.com.

The Permission to observe your child may be completed in the same fashion. Open, save as a Word document, complete and email to gkvanderhorst@gmail.com.

Please open the Informed Consent for Treatment and print it out for your signature. Review the document and bring the signed document to your first appointment. This document will become a part of your record file in the office.

The Maryland Notice Form is for your records regarding HIPPA regulations as they relate to your rights as a patient. You may save this document in electronic or paper form for your records.

Please download the Pre-Authorization Health Care form in the same fashion and complete as a guarantee of payment. You may return the form via email or bring it with you to the first appointment